Introduced as a new Guns N' Roses song by lead singer Axl Rose, “Absurd” is a reworked version of “Silkworms” from the Chinese Democracy sessions. It is the first new song performed by the band since the return of original members Slash and Duff McKagan.

The song was released as a single on August 6, 2021, the first newly recorded material released since November 2008.